Delegates discuss nutrition and rural health at the first Regional 4-H Camp in 1948.

2015 marks the 125th year of the passage of the Morrell Act of 1890, which established U.S. Congressional authority for the 1890 Land Grant Institutions of Higher Education. Youth development has been an important part of the 1890 mission since the very beginning. 1890 leaders have called for a special effort to document the rich history of the youth development programs and accomplishments based at the 1890 institutions.

 On April 29, 2015, L. Washington Lyons, Executive Administrator of the 1890 Extension Administrators, convened the first conference call of staff from 1890 4-H institutions in Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. This initial call began the multimonth effort to design, develop and implement a multi-media collection of 1890 institution-based educational resources and activities to be incorporated into the National 4-H History Preservation program, to serve as the foundation for future Youth Development programs in all land-grant schools.

 Initially, the 1890 Youth Development History Team will explore a wide variety of information sources to tell the 1890 youth development history. They have identified potential sources of files and records from:

• Out-reach offices at the 1890 campuses and field offices where it is systematically organized by the library system on each campus;
• Private collections of former 1890 staff, volunteers and supporters; and
• In the memories of the former 1890 staff and clientele.

 The vision for the next year is to design several approaches that capture the significant history of the 1890 youth development story, and organize it for sharing in a variety of ways, including publications, online archives and multi-media presentations. Initial ideas call for the story to identify important milestones and pioneers highlighting the needs, efforts and progress, across the past, present and future of 1890 youth development.

Dr. L. Washington Lyons encourages this effort to reach out to all who can help contribute information and assistance to the celebration of 125 years of progress of 1890 youth development.

 The 1890 Youth Development History design team meets again on May 21, 2015.

Please direct your interest in helping with this important work to L. Washington Lyons, at Lwlyons@ncat.edu